Consumption of Sprouts and Perceptions of Their Health Properties in a Region of Northwestern Mexico

There is a lack of information about consumer understanding of functional foods. Sprouts provide beneficial compounds that can help counteract chronic noncommunicable diseases. The population of a region in Northwestern Mexico has a high prevalence of chronic degenerative disease, and there is a need to promote strategies to increase the consumption of foods that provide health benefits, including sprouts. However, there is a lack of information regarding the sale, consumption and perception of sprouts’ healthy properties. A computer-assisted web-based survey (CAWI) was developed and distributed through social media to understand consumer knowledge of these foods’ health effects and their consumption. The survey of people with diverse sociodemographic profiles indicated a 1–3 times per week consumption and they knew the health benefits of consuming sprouts. A total of 82% of respondents were conscious that sprout consumption could prevent chronic diseases, which may be related to education level (χ2: 0.001, p < 0.05). In order to expand on our findings, it is important to investigate the communication strategies used by sprout manufacturers, dieticians, nutritionists and health professionals about the health benefits of sprout products to promote their consumption.

Incorporating Remote Sensing Techniques To The DRASTIC Index To Assess Groundwater Vulnerability In The Mining Area of the Rio Sonora Aquifer in Northwestern Mexico

Groundwater metal pollution is a major concern for societies, especially in areas where the mining industry is important. Index-based techniques, as the DRASTIC index, are often used to assess the intrinsic groundwater vulnerability and could be modified to evaluate the aquifer vulnerability to specific contaminants. Mines, mining wastes and related features are detectable with remote sensing techniques. In this work we evaluate the vulnerability of the Rio Sonora Aquifer to metallic pollution by the traditional DRASTIC method and by the addition of a land use (Lu) parameter in which possible sources of metals (detected by remote sensing) were considered (DRASTIC+Lu). The methodology allowed us to locate possible sources of metallic contamination. The Sonora River channel showed the higher vulnerability in both calculated vulnerability indices (DRASTIC and DRASTIC+Lu). Generally, the addition of the land use parameter caused a decrease in vulnerability but also a local increase where possible sources of metals were found. Thus, the modified method facilitated the identification of highly vulnerable areas which is relevant to better protect the studied aquifer.

Bias-Based Cyberaggression in Northwestern Mexican Adolescents: Associations With Moral Disengagement

Although there is a body of literature that addresses victimization of adolescents based on their membership in stigmatized groups, there is little that focuses on this type of aggression delivered digitally. Furthermore, the extant literature typically focuses on the targets of such aggression, but scant attention has been paid to the aggressors. To address this gap, the current study investigated characteristics of perpetrators of bias-based cyberaggression in a sample of 554 self-reported cyber-aggressors among 1695 12- to15-year-old adolescents in northwestern Mexico. Approximately one-fourth of these cyber-aggressors engaged in bias-based cyberaggression. Demographic characteristics were investigated in an attempt to describe those most at risk for perpetration of bias-based aggression. In addition, the influence of moral disengagement was examined in this unique sample. Results showed that cyber-aggressors who were male and younger were disproportionately represented among those whose cyberaggression was motivated by some type of bias. Bias-based cyberaggression was associated with higher levels of several types of moral disengagement. Possible explanations and implications of the findings are discussed.

Evaluation of Home Energy Efficiency Improvements in a Hot Desert Climate in Northwestern Mexico: The Energy Saving vs. Money Saving Conflict

Reducing household energy consumption is one of the most important strategies used to decrease fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gases emissions, and to encourage renewable energy utilization. Most energy conservation strategies in the domestic sector are aimed at preferential loans, i.e., purchasing renewable electricity or to improve the efficiency of home appliances, such as air conditioning and lighting. However, despite the relative economic successes of these technologies, they have not had expected impacts in regard to energy consumption. In this work, the authors analyzed the consumption patterns of two equivalent households—one was adapted with improved thermal insulation and a 1.2 kW photovoltaic system to reduce consumption from the electrical grid. The results show that dwellings where no improvements were made registered lower electric energy consumption, due the fact that users were aware that no strategy had been implemented, and its consumption; hence, electricity payments depended solely on one’s attention over the electronic device operations. On the other hand, energy conservation strategies in households promotes confident and relaxed attitudes toward the use of energy, leading to lower energy billings, but a higher gross energy consumption.

A new genus and seven new species of chrysopetalids (Annelida, Chrysopetalidae) from the Tropical Eastern Pacific

Chrysopetalids annelids have been little studied in the Tropical Eastern Pacific (TEP), with only 24 species recorded in the region. Most records are from northwestern Mexico and Costa Rica, leaving many sites along the Tropical Pacific coast of America unexplored. Furthermore, there are species recorded and described from the region with problems in their status, including questionable records, modest illustrations or descriptions, and lost type material. This paper aims to improve the knowledge of this family in the TEP. Almost 290 specimens were revised, provided from five scientific collections, covering 51 sites along the TEP and nearby. Two subfamilies: Calamyzinae and Chrysopetalinae, nine genera and 20 species were determined. Of these, ten species have been previously recorded, three are indeterminable and seven are new species: Paleanotus karlyae n. sp., Arichlidon mucropaleum n. sp., Bhawania bastidai n. sp., Chrysopetalum mexicanum n. sp., C. tovarae n. sp. A new genus is proposed, Bhawatsonia n. gen. which includes two new species, B. fusa n. sp. as its type species, B. nenoae n. sp. and, the new combination and neotype of B. purpurea n. comb. An updated and revised checklist of all chrysopetalids species recorded in the region is included, currently composed of 16 genera, 30 species, and four morphospecies.